Dani and Teags Scott are not only friends and sister-in-laws, they are also business partners. The duo open up about how and why they started a candle business together.
Eighteen months later the duo run a successful candle company, Blossom + Bloom, with more than 40 stockists across Australia.
During Covid, Dani and Teags – who describe themselves as “candle-crazed sissy-in-laws” – bought a candle-making starter pack to give themselves something to do and also keep their homes smelling wonderful.
“We love candles and were making them at home for ourselves and then all of a sudden we were giving them to family and friends,” Teags says.
Dani and Teags Scott. Photo: Ginger + Mint
Dani approached Teags with the idea to turn it into a business, but Teags wasn’t sure; she thought the candle market was already saturated.
But Dani didn’t give up and her persistence paid off, with Teags finally agreeing.
“I was like, ‘We’ll start with markets and start small’ but Teags was like, ‘No we’re going straight to wholesale, skip the market part and we’re doing everything properly’,” Dani explains.
And while they initially thought the candle market was saturated, it turns out there was a need for more.
Their candles are stocked in more than 40 stores, and that is without them approaching anyone.
“It just happened really organically, Instagram is amazing,” Teags says.
Their full collection. Photo: Ginger + Mint
As the business took off, Teags – who has a background in marketing – left her full-time job at kids brand Milky in Easter last year to dedicate her time to Blossom + Bloom. Dani still works as a dental nurse but is about to go on maternity leave.
The pair, who met 12 years ago through their husbands, moved into a dedicated warehouse space three months ago to make their candles in South Geelong after working out of three garages, their own and their in-laws’.
And it is hard to miss their workshop as the delicious fragrances that waft down the driveway draw you in.
Choosing the fragrances for their candles was the hardest component of starting the business.
“I find it really hard to choose the scents. Everyone has differing opinions and you can’t just bring out what you like, you’ve got to cater for everybody,” Teags says.
“There was a lot of experimenting and a lot of shocking ones.
“And it can smell so different from the initial bottle, to a candle, to a few weeks later once its cured. It’s a long process.”
Dani used her kids crayons to sketch up an idea for the packaging. Photo: Ginger + Mint
They want to keep the range small. Photo: Ginger + Mint
The duo wanted to nail the business from the get go.
This included Teags stealing her kids’ crayons and sketching up her vision for the packaging, which their graphic designer turned into reality.
This includes imagery of At The Heads in Barwon Heads and colourful floral designs.
The business started with four fragrances – fresh sage and driftwood, Japanese honeysuckle, lychee lime peel and pink champagne and exotic fruits.
They have since added two more fragrances – the chill’d lemon and the warm orange – which also have a different vibe of packaging. Again, Dani and Teags want to try and cater for everyone.
But they plan on keeping the range small.
“When a candle business has a million different fragrances but you’ve got a budget, it makes it too hard to choose,” Teags says.
There are two different sized candles available in each fragrance from Blossom + Bloom, plus reusable car diffusers – an idea they came up with while travelling back from Melbourne one day.
“I started ordering things during the car trip,” Dani laughs.
It took the pair six months to get the business up and running.
Teags says nailing the fragrance percentage-wise was the longest process but then also trialling different glass and wax and wicks.
“It is pricey and we self-funded. It was a big risk,” she shares.
Their car diffusers are a point of difference. Photo: Ginger + Mint
Blossom + Bloom now runs from a dedicated warehouse instead of their garages. Photo: Ginger + Mint
When their website went live before Christmas in 2021 they were surprised by how popular the candles were.
“All our friends were buying them, but when people we didn’t know started buying, that was really special and when stores we didn’t have a connection with started reaching out,” Teags says proudly.
Blossom + Bloom is stocked in most states across Australia, except Tasmania, which they are hoping won’t be for too much longer. They have signed up an agent as they don’t have time to approach businesses themselves.
If running the business doesn’t keep them busy enough, the pair are also both mums.
Teags has three boys and Dani has a girl and a boy, with another boy on the way.
“That was the main reason we wanted this, to have flexibility,” Dani says.
“They all come in here and go crazy. Some days it’s great, some days it’s a struggle,” Teags adds.
And making candles hasn’t put them off them either, with candles always burning at both their homes.
“We always have so many sample ones. Sometimes my husband will get home and go ‘That’s a no’,” Teags laughs.
While wholesale is a big part of the business, the pair hope to open a shopfront at their workshop as well so customers can come in and smell their candles in person.
Follow @_blossomandbloomcandles on Instagram and shop via bbcandles.com.au